Five board games to brighten a dull, rainy weekend

It's that horrible time of year where things are glum 'n gray with spring just out of reach, so there's nothing for it but waiting out the weather with a good board game. If you want to add a little coziness to a dreary weekend, I've got some recommendations that will do the trick.

Besides writing about the best board games for a living with news, reviews, and guides, I also spend much of my free time playing them. That habit has left me with a collection that makes my house feel like an impromptu board game cafe, and I always gravitate toward a few titles when the weather closes in.

Life in Reterra always helps me get out of a funk thanks to its puzzle-like mechanics and cheery style, for example, while Finspan provides a dose of the tropical when I'm missing summer vacations. Those are just two of my go-tos — I have a whole list of them — and if you want something to brighten up a winter weekend, here's my full first-aid kit of board games you need to play.

board games, rainy weekend, cozy games, reterra, finspan, puzzle mechanics, cheery style, tropical games, game cafe, collection